Pistons to acquire Jennings from Bucks, sources say

DETROIT — Restricted free agent point guard Brandon Jennings was determined to get out of Milwaukee.

And the Detroit Pistons have provided a landing spot and in the process have completely revamped their roster in one off-season.

The Detroit Free Press has learned that Jennings will come to the Pistons as part of a sign-and-trade agreement with the Milwaukee Bucks, according to multiple league sources.

The Pistons will send third-year point guard Brandon Knight, second-year small forward Khris Middleton and second-year center Slava Kravtsov to the Bucks.

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The sources requested anonymity because the two sides have only agreed in principle.

But if Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars decides to take it easy for the rest of the summer (not likely), the Pistons will probably have seven new faces in the lineup when the season begins next season.

And Jennings, 23, will likely be the starting point guard.

Entering his fifth season, he is coming off a poor shooting season (approximately 40 percent). He averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 assists per game.

After playing professionally in Italy for what would have been his professional collegiate season, Jennings was the 10th pick overall of the Bucks in the 2009 draft.

The Southern California native excelled immediately, but rumors began early in his tenure that he wasn’t interested in remaining in Milwaukee long-term. The whispers grew louder when Jennings reportedly turned down a four-year, $40-million deal before last season.

He played out the season and it was assumed there would be a market for Jennings, one of the top point guards on the market. But his restricted free agent status, which would give the Bucks three days to match an offer, scared off suitors.

So ultimately Jennings had to settle for less than what the Bucks originally offered.

Jennings is a talented upgrade and has shown a creative flair at the offensive end. But he is a non-defender and is known as a shoot-first point guard, meaning he could throw up jumpers while ignoring Josh Smith, Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe.

The Pistons move on from Knight, their 2011 first-round pick. He is still considered promising, but he struggled at the point and with owner Tom Gores wanting to win sooner rather than later, the patience had worn thin. The organization feels Jennings is prepared to help the team win now.

The Pistons roster now stands at 13 and you can expect the team to sign Peyton Siva, the second-round point guard out of Louisville. The team only has two players who can play center on the roster in Drummond and Monroe.

But unless there is a trade, their options are limited since they are right up against the $58.7-million salary cap. Still, it’s expected the Pistons will add another big.

The Pistons were able to complete the deal without giving up either of their expiring deals in Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva, so they can still be active in the trade market.